After 28 years of service to Western Colorado, Lois and Bob and the rest of the family called it quits.

Here's the good news - no one lost their jobs (minus Lois and Bob). The entire staff is making the move to a new home. Someone bought Lois' Place, along with the menu and all of Lois' recipes, and will reopen at the old Los Reyes location on 7th Street.

I've run into Pam, a twenty-plus year employee at Lois', several times since they closed. The staff has been hard at work gutting the old restaurant, and making the move to the new location. Work, work, work.

The new location, under a new name, will be opening in early January 2019.

The Sears store at the Mesa Mall closed down in late 2018 after a long run in Western Colorado. I can remember a time when Sears was the only store at what is now Mesa Mall.

I hated to see this store close. One relative, along with a good friend, both made careers out of this store. Personally, I've made several major purchases at Sears over the decades: appliances, furnishings, etc.

It was a good run. The Grand Junction store wasn't the only link in the chain calling it quits in 2018. The company took a pretty big hit nationwide.

Like I said before, all restaurants have customers, but Los Reyes had fans. People were brokenhearted upon hearing this restaurant would be closing after 50 years.

This was a family-owned business in every sense. Eventually, it was time to retire.

Here's the good news - another local restaurant, the aforementioned Lois' Place, will be moving to the old Los Reyes building. It won't be Mexican food, and it won't be called Lois' Place, but it will be another locally owned business taking over the location.

Loyal customers turned out in force to say goodbye. Look at that line. That's a local business for you at its best.

This popular downtown clothing store shut down after 20 years of service to Grand Junction.

I want to thank you all for your friendship, your loyalty , and your support during the past 20 years. In the future might catch me "Moonlighting" at the Blue Moon!

During its final days, Razzmatazz hosted a huge sale, along with festivities and prizes.

Tom Freeman

I really hate it when I see a Western Colorado business closing. It's heartbreaking. More than anything, it's sad to know people will be losing their jobs, or their businesses, and having to search for something else. In addition to that, I'm a creature of habit, and tend to get attached to a business. I'm still trying to get over Talley's closing, and they shut down several years ago.

I was sorry to see these Grand Junction businesses close in 2018. It's scary to think what 2019 has in store for us. In any event, I would like to thank them for their years of service to the people of Western Colorado.